Havelock North bar Turks is closing its doors for three days after repeated liquor licensing breaches, which included having an intoxicated patron drinking on the premises and failing to provide adequate food service.
The bar, based significantly around its TAB operation and a haven for horse and sports punters, is closed
today and tomorrow, and will reopen for the weekend before being closed again on Monday.
The suspension is a part of a settlement negotiated with the Liquor Licensing Authority ahead of a hearing which was to have been held in Napier tomorrow.
As part of the settlement the bar's management have agreed to undertake further staff training on host responsibility.
Both the Police and Hastings District Licensing Agency, operated by the Hastings District Council, had applied to the Authority following concerns raised by the Hawke's Bay District Health Board that adequate food was not available at Turks Bar, and availability of food was not promoted.
Authorities visited the premises several times between 2007 and February 2010, and found the food available did not meet the guidelines spelt out in the bar's liquor licence.
At times the only food available was frozen pies or chips and a manager said food could be bought at nearby outlets.
In another visit in May this year, a grossly intoxicated man, holding a glass of beer, almost unable to stand-up without holding on to a bar leaner and appearing to fall asleep while being questioned, was found in a licensed area of the outside footpath.
Other breaches revealed to the authority involved administrative issues including failure to display the duty manager's name.
Hastings District Council Group Manager planning and regulatory services John O'Shaughnessy said in a statement the community expected licensed premises to be held to high levels of accountability.
"Liquor licence holders have ongoing responsibilities for every patron and on every day the establishment is open," he said.
"Thankfully the majority of licensed premises do maintain a high level of compliance, but we will continue our checks to ensure they stay that way."
